The West Gate Bridge is over 2.5 kilometres in length, with a main river span of 336 metres. It has a navigational clearance to low water of 53.7 metres and its two towers stand 102 metres high .

Built at a cost of $202 million, construction work commenced on 22 April 1968 and was eventually completed on 15 November 1978.

During its construction an accident occured that has permanently linked West Gate Bridge as Australia’s single worst ever workplace catastrophe. At 11.50 am on 15 October 1970, the bridge’s 112 metre span 10-11 collapsed during construction, killing 35 workers and injuring many more.

Another plaque was added in proximity ot he monument in 2010 during strengthening work on the bridge.

Details

Dedication

Front Inscription

Construction Workers employed on Westgate Bridge erected and dedicated this memorial to their 35 workmates who were killed when a span of the bridge collapsed during construction at 11.50 a.m. 15th October 1970.

Our comrades who lost their lives were (35 names and trades). In memory of workers of all lands who are killed in industrial accidents

Inscription in Proximity

2010

Forty years after the tragedy of 1970, the workers of the WEST GATE BRIDGE strengthening project remember the sacrifices of an earlier generation. They left us a mightly legacy. The struggle continues and in the words of a great philosopher - "Now and then the workers are victorious, but only for a time. The real fruit of their battle lies, not in the immediate result, but in the ever expanding union of the workers."